Do you keep a cover over your boat?

[Numlaar]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

My boat is kept under a carport, but I also have one of the walmart specials to cover it up to keep dirt, leaves, grass, etc. from blowing into it and making it filthy.

I had it stored outside previously, and those walmart covers won't even make it a year in the FL sun.. (dry rot and fall apart)...

But my general practice is to leave it out for one day in the sun after use to make sure its nice and dry before I put it away... keeps the chance of moisture accumulation down.

 

[88BLiner]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I just use a tarp and bungees for now. I am restoring it and have not invested in a real cover yet.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Yes, I alwats cover the boat when sitting.

Its to hard to to get the pellet marks out, when i miss the birds

 

[skysurfer2010]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

Question for you guys...

My boat came with canvas covers for the bow and cockpit area, but they're old and shrunk so they have gaps in certain areas that allow quite a bit of rain in. I decided to go out and buy a tarp which I threw over the boat with the canvas still on. I've decided I don't like this since taking the tarp on and off is a hassle alone and then securing it with bungee cords is like conducting an orchestra to get it just right. It's not easy to do and is a royal PITA if I want to get into the boat for any reason once it's done. While at walmart tonight I picked up a cheap $65 cover that I thought I'd just toss over the canvas instead of the tarp. Here are my questions after reading this thread.

Is it ok to use the canvas and also the boat cover in the summer to keep the rain out since the boat is on average used once a week? Would this be often enough to keep it ventilated while also keeping the rain out?

Would it be best for winter storage to put the canvas on and then use the tarp since it vents and forget about the cover?

I'm pretty confused about what the best option is. New canvas is too pricey for me right now and keeping it in a garage isn't an option. Maybe a car canopy wouldn't be a bad idea?

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I have a mooring cover on my Starcraft Islander and shrinkwrap it in the winter. There is enough open area that it vents very well in summer after it rains. My 2000 Lund has a lifetime warranty on the floor. If it rots I take it in and they replace it free. I hav a winter cover for it when on the trailer, in the spring, summer, and fall its in the canal exposed to everything.

 

[EsoxRanger]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

If it has carpet it is always covered. If it's just an aluminum or glass tub, it only gets covered off season.

 

[sprintst]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I redid the deck among other things this summer and am hoping to not let it get rained on...unlike the previous owner.

I have a ratty canvas cover that will be replaced in the next couple of days with a custom cover with vents. I'll throw another tarp over it to keep the some of the snow and what not away from the new cover.

If I had room in the garage the boat would be in there. Maybe the next house will have a nice big disproportionate garage.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I've been using the grey 11 mil tarps from Harbor Freight. Quite a bit cheaper than a similar size and weight tarp from Depot or Lowes. But I have to admit that when they sit out in the sun 24/7/365, they have a life span of about two years. Typically, they fail at the top center. So what I've been doing is taking the two year old larg tarp from the bayliner, and folding it in half to use on the MFG. That way, it's good for another two years, and I buy a new large tarp for the Bayliner. In fact, if you check their pricing, a large tarp is just a little more than a small tarp. So it pays to buy twice the size and cut in two or fold in half to get double the life span with only about 20% increase in cost.

 

[bass or bass ?]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I use a large silver/brown tarp from Lowe's. I made a support frame from 1/2" PVC pipe, 45 and 90 degree angles and "T"'s, cut and glued in 3 separateable pieces. The framework works like a tent framework; high ridge down the center, lower ridges down either side. It is set up inside the boat, and each end drops toward the bow and stern so water is shed from 4 directions at once. Works great, is cheap, and easy to put together.

 

[redeye1962]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

I put up the bimini and a tarp over it. I can get in and out very easy and the bimini gets to breath. It vents very well and I can climb in and out with ease.

 

[ezwitter]

Re: Do you keep a cover over your boat?

i always cover mines but not tight so air can get in